Heat-Related Stress on food security
Context:
A recent joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Meteorological Organization warns that extreme heat is becoming a major threat to global agriculture and food security.
About Extreme heat:
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- Extreme heat refers to prolonged periods of excessively high temperatures, officially categorized as heatwaves, which are rising in intensity and frequency due to climate change.
- It is a significant non-traditional disaster impacting health, agriculture, and labor, causing "thermal injustice" where the poor and informal workforce are disproportionately affected.
- Extreme heat refers to prolonged periods of excessively high temperatures, officially categorized as heatwaves, which are rising in intensity and frequency due to climate change.
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Key findings of the report:
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- Extreme Heat as a “Threat Multiplier”:
- The report describes extreme heat as a “threat multiplier” because it worsens existing vulnerabilities in developing countries.
- Extreme heat increases soil moisture evaporation, disrupts rainfall patterns, dries agricultural land, and causes floods and droughts.
- It also damages forests, reduces biodiversity, and affects food supply chains. Since nearly 80 per cent of agricultural land globally depends on rainfall, rising temperatures create severe stress for food production systems.
- The report describes extreme heat as a “threat multiplier” because it worsens existing vulnerabilities in developing countries.
- Impact on India’s Food System:
- India’s food security depends heavily on climate-sensitive crops like wheat and rice. The Indo-Gangetic Plains, known as the food bowl of India, are highly vulnerable to terminal heat stress.
- Even a rise of 1–2°C above normal temperatures can reduce wheat productivity by causing shrivelled grains and forced crop maturity. The 2022 heatwave significantly reduced wheat yields in several Indian states.
- Rice cultivation is also at risk because it is highly dependent on rainfall and stable weather conditions.
- Since rice contributes nearly 70 per cent of calorie intake in India, rising heat poses a direct threat to national food security. India’s dependence on monoculture farming of wheat and rice further increases vulnerability to climate change.
- India’s food security depends heavily on climate-sensitive crops like wheat and rice. The Indo-Gangetic Plains, known as the food bowl of India, are highly vulnerable to terminal heat stress.
- Effects on Livestock, Fisheries, and Forests:
- Extreme heat adversely affects livestock, especially the dairy and poultry sectors. Heat stress reduces milk and egg production while increasing animal mortality.
- Fisheries are also under threat because rising ocean temperatures reduce dissolved oxygen levels and push fish populations into deeper waters beyond the reach of traditional fishermen.
- Forests are equally vulnerable as rising temperatures increase the risk of wildfires, damaging biodiversity and reducing the availability of forest products such as fruits, honey, and medicinal plants.
- Extreme heat adversely affects livestock, especially the dairy and poultry sectors. Heat stress reduces milk and egg production while increasing animal mortality.
- Extreme Heat as a “Threat Multiplier”:
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Challenges in India’s Agricultural Policy Framework:
India’s agricultural policies have mainly focused on increasing food production rather than climate resilience. Subsidies and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system encourage the cultivation of water-intensive crops like wheat and paddy. Climate-resilient crops such as millets and pulses remain less profitable for farmers despite government promotion of “Shree Anna.”
Conclusion:
Extreme heat has emerged as a major challenge for India’s food security and agricultural economy. Climate-sensitive crops, dependence on monsoon rainfall, and a large agricultural workforce make India highly vulnerable to rising temperatures. To address this crisis, India must promote crop diversification, climate-resilient farming, labour protection, and sustainable agricultural policies to build a more secure and resilient food system.
